2020-2021 NBA Game Thread

Sam Ray Not

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Currygod crashes back to earth hard — complete brickfest (7-25) and late-game choke job to vomit away another game v. the Wizards. Bleh.
 

Kliq

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Currygod crashes back to earth hard — complete brickfest (7-25) and late-game choke job to vomit away another game v. the Wizards. Bleh.
Another classic Westbrook line though: 14-20-10, 5/17 from the field and 9 turnovers.
 

terrynever

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Dang, that Embiid fling might have been the greatest shot in NBA history had it not rimmed out.
I’ll still go with Don Nelson killing the Lakers in a Game 7 with a jumper that hit back of rim, went straight up in the air and down through the net.
Interesting list, though: Greatest shots ever. Gotta be meaningful, game on the line shots.
 

HomeRunBaker

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I’ll still go with Don Nelson killing the Lakers in a Game 7 with a jumper that hit back of rim, went straight up in the air and down through the net.
Interesting list, though: Greatest shots ever. Gotta be meaningful, game on the line shots.
Do dunks count?
Ja Morant would have several in the Top-10 had they gone down. Kid has a highlight reel from his missed dunks alone. This one was your average, “final possession of a tie game, caught in mid-air, pass to yourself off the backboard and rim while dunking over the defender at the buzzer for the win” miss.
View: https://youtu.be/YjovS1MaRmw
 

128

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I keep waiting for some of the C's new rivals in the East to fade, but it's not happening. Boston could play well down the stretch and still end up outside the top six.
 

Kliq

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Giannis put on his big boy pants today: 27-16-6 on 8/15 shooting as Milwaukee beat Philly. He significantly outplayed Embiid, who had 24-3-3 on 9/21 shooting. No Simmons for Philly probably helped.
 

TripleOT

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Dang, that Embiid fling might have been the greatest shot in NBA history had it not rimmed out.
Jerry Harkness had a miracle shot in 1967 for the Pacers to overcome a two point deficit in the final second, measured at 88 feet, back at the beginning of the ABA. Unfortunately, no video exists of the miracle shot.

Tie game, his teammate blocks a layup attempt in the final seconds, but the ball goes caroms into the basket for an apparent game winner. A teammate flicks the inbound pass to Harkness, who one touch hook shoots the ball all the way down court, and it goes in for the win.
 

DJnVa

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I keep waiting for some of the C's new rivals in the East to fade, but it's not happening. Boston could play well down the stretch and still end up outside the top six.
Knicks play Phoenix twice, Memphis, Denver, LAC, LAL, and Bos down the stretch.
Hawks, likely without Young for a few games, play Miami, Mil, Philly twice, Portland, and Phoenix.

If Celtics keep winning, they *should* be okay.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Knicks play Phoenix twice, Memphis, Denver, LAC, LAL, and Bos down the stretch.
Hawks, likely without Young for a few games, play Miami, Mil, Philly twice, Portland, and Phoenix.

If Celtics keep winning, they *should* be okay.
Cs also have 2 games versus MIA in May that will be super important if seeding is an issue.
 

DJnVa

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ESPN & Marvel to offer first NBA Special Edition presented by State Farm: Marvel’s Arena of Heroes Alternate Presentation for Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans Game on May 3 | New Orleans Pelicans

The latest development in Marvel and ESPN’s long history of sports content collaboration, the telecast will integrate elements from an original Marvel story and iconic characters including Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Black Widow, and Doctor Strange throughout the live game, including 3D virtual characters, custom graphics and animation packages.
 

Cesar Crespo

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How do people feel about the play in game anyway? I wonder if it sticks around.

Washington has now won 6 straight. NY is at 8 and has pretty much cemented a spot in the play in game, anyway. Seems like every team in the hunt is playing well besides the Hornets. The Bulls and Raptors are still hanging around too. The west is less of a mess though.


edit: Heat at Hawks tonight too. That benefits the C's regardless of result.
 

ElUno20

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I fn love this play in garbage they have planned. Why not? The 7-8 is an ass kicking anyway. We might as well have some entertainment in that 3 day lull after the regular season ends4050840509
 

HomeRunBaker

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How do people feel about the play in game anyway? I wonder if it sticks around.

Washington has now won 6 straight. NY is at 8 and has pretty much cemented a spot in the play in game, anyway. Seems like every team in the hunt is playing well besides the Hornets. The Bulls and Raptors are still hanging around too. The west is less of a mess though.


edit: Heat at Hawks tonight too. That benefits the C's regardless of result.
I’m with ElUno.....I fuckin love it!!! You get more teams involved at the end of the season so those normally packing it in are now playing crucial games. Then we begin the playoffs not with a couple of 1 vs 8’s and 2 vs 7 series.......but instead with 4 elimination games!!! Hell yeah!!
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I’m with ElUno.....I fuckin love it!!! You get more teams involved at the end of the season so those normally packing it in are now playing crucial games. Then we begin the playoffs not with a couple of 1 vs 8’s and 2 vs 7 series.......but instead with 4 elimination games!!! Hell yeah!!
Cosigned
 

Kliq

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In the play-in game(s) is either going to involve an incredible Westbrook performance that drags them into the playoffs, or an incredible self-destruction by Westbrook, and that alone is enough to approve of the play-in game. In the West we will also get treated to basically Steph needing to score 40+ to get GS in.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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In the play-in game(s) is either going to involve an incredible Westbrook performance that drags them into the playoffs, or an incredible self-destruction by Westbrook, and that alone is enough to approve of the play-in game. In the West we will also get treated to basically Steph needing to score 40+ to get GS in.
Who wants to face a team with a healthy RWB and the potential NBA scoring leader?

BOS has two games versus CHA this week and two games v MIA coming up that will be super important.
 

the moops

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May be a dumb question, but I can't find an answer. Do we wait until after the play-in games to determine draft lottery slotting? As in, can the 10 seed actually lose a spot to the 9 seed should they beat them, but then lose to the 7/8? Similarly, is the 7/8 seed automatically out of the lottery, regardless of whether they win/lose any play in games?
 

Sam Ray Not

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May be a dumb question, but I can't find an answer. Do we wait until after the play-in games to determine draft lottery slotting? As in, can the 10 seed actually lose a spot to the 9 seed should they beat them, but then lose to the 7/8? Similarly, is the 7/8 seed automatically out of the lottery, regardless of whether they win/lose any play in games?
Lottery slotting is determined after the play-in round. So yes, you can be a 7-8 seed and get in the lottery.

Edit: as far as lottery order, I’m pretty sure it’s just “go/no-go” — so if the #9 and #10 seeds both fail to make the playoffs, #10 would still draft first even if they had advanced in the first round of the play-ins. Don’t quote me on that one, though...
 
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Cesar Crespo

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I’m with ElUno.....I fuckin love it!!! You get more teams involved at the end of the season so those normally packing it in are now playing crucial games. Then we begin the playoffs not with a couple of 1 vs 8’s and 2 vs 7 series.......but instead with 4 elimination games!!! Hell yeah!!
Yeah, I hope they keep it around. It doesn't eliminate tanking but it does help reduce it a lot. If a team has any type of chance to make the playoffs, it's too lucrative to punt at the hopes of a top 3 pick. It also makes for an interesting trading deadline that we saw this year.

Plus if teams are safely in the play in game, there is always the competition for the 6th spot, which is light years more valuable than the 7-10. It adds a whole new dynamic.


Side question: When does 3 point % stabilize in today's NBA? Like, when do we know how good of a shooter MPJ actually is? With career, it's incredibly difficult because some players drastically improve over time too. I doubt MPJ is going to be one of those players and that his shooting is pretty close to fully developed.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Just noticed JJJ is back for Memphis. That's a huge shot in the arm for the team. He went 10/14 with 23 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and a block in 25 minutes in his 2nd game back. It's amazing to me he's still 21 years old.

Memphis is going to be scary good if they can keep the core of Morant/JJJ/Brooks. They also have Melton and Bane who are looking like legit NBA players and Grayson Allen and Brandon Clarke. All of those players are 25 or younger.

Pretty much everyone is under contract for next year too besides Tillie and McDermott. They'll also have enough cap space for a max.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Just noticed JJJ is back for Memphis. That's a huge shot in the arm for the team. He went 10/14 with 23 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and a block in 25 minutes in his 2nd game back. It's amazing to me he's still 21 years old.

Memphis is going to be scary good if they can keep the core of Morant/JJJ/Brooks. They also have Melton and Bane who are looking like legit NBA players and Grayson Allen and Brandon Clarke. All of those players are 25 or younger.

Pretty much everyone is under contract for next year too besides Tillie and McDermott. They'll also have enough cap space for a max.
I never thought I’d hear Dillon Brooks included in anyone’s core. He’s had to be a primary offensive option on this team.....which is a part of their problem. I’m fine with him in a normal rotation role but he’s not really that good of a player imo.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I never thought I’d hear Dillon Brooks included in anyone’s core. He’s had to be a primary offensive option on this team.....which is a part of their problem. I’m fine with him in a normal rotation role but he’s not really that good of a player imo.
I guess it depends on how you define core. Brooks obviously isn't nearly as important as Morant and JJJ though. He's also a bit older than I thought. Either way, they have a lot of good young players and cap space.

They have the 2 important pieces, depending on how people feel about JJJ. I'm a big fan.
 

jon abbey

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9 in a row for the Knicks, only the second team to do that so far this year (Utah has done it three times, impressively).
 

jon abbey

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Hawks with a big comeback win in the 4th to beat the Bucks, 41-26 in the 4th, to win 111-104, without Trae Young, Bogdanovic with 32 on 12-21.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Suns win the battle of the “feel-good NBA stories of 20-21 who would be even more feel-good if they both had not inexplicably passed on Ty Haliburton.”

Monty Williams for COY.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Some context for the Love incident, but still not really acceptable.
We don’t know the discussions behind the scenes but I’d have to guess that his agent has been trying to get his release so now he’s taking the next step. Sometimes you have to play hardball to get what you want/need.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Since when does money equal happiness?
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2016976118

But it’s not really about being happy. It’s about putting in even a modicum of effort, enough so as not to actively sabotage the job you’re being paid for. I’m sure everyone on this board has had bad days at work where they still put in more effort than Love did there, and for a tiny fraction of the pay.
We don’t know the discussions behind the scenes but I’d have to guess that his agent has been trying to get his release so now he’s taking the next step. Sometimes you have to play hardball to get what you want/need.
We’re past the date for buyout players to sign elsewhere and still be eligible to play in the postseason, so if he wants out now it’s not because he’s chasing a ring or wants to play meaningful minutes, it’s because he wants to be paid millions to sit on his ass and not play basketball. I’m sure they’d be happy to accommodate if he’s willing to give up a large portion of the $60 million he’s owed over the next two season.